Trump Says US Withdrawal From Syria Has ‘Nothing to Do With’ al-Baghdadi Operation

In this image released by the White House, President Donald Trump is joined by Vice President Mike Pence, second from left, national security adviser Robert O’Brien, left; Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, second from right, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, right, on Oct. 26, 2019, in the Situation Room of the White House monitoring developments in the U.S. Special Operations forces raid that took out Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Shealah Craighead/White House via AP

President Donald Trump has said his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria earlier this month has nothing to do with the operation to capture or kill ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The president made the comments during his press conference at the White House on Oct. 27 in which he shared details about the successful mission carried out by U.S. Special Operations forces on Oct. 26.